 is a prescription medication used to treat Parkinson's Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome. Mirapex belongs to a group of drugs called dopamine agonists which work by binding to dopamine receptors in the brain, helping to control movement.This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 3 times daily for Parkinson's Disease and once daily, at bedtime, for Restless Legs Syndrome. Mirapex tablets can be taken with or without food.Common side effects of Mirapex include nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy... "Pin It")
Mirapex Overview
Mirapex (generic: pramipexole) is a prescription medication used to treat Parkinson's Disease and Restless Legs Syndrome. Mirapex belongs to a group of drugs called dopamine agonists which work by binding to dopamine receptors in the brain, helping to control movement.
This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 3 times daily for Parkinson's Disease and once daily, at bedtime, for Restless Legs Syndrome. Mirapex tablets can be taken with or without food.
Common side effects of Mirapex include nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
Uses of Mirapex
Mirapex is a prescription medicine used to treat Restless Legs Syndrome, and signs and symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
Side Effects of Mirapex
Mirapex may cause serious side effects, including
- falling asleep during normal daily activities.
- low blood pressure when you sit or stand up quickly. You may have dizziness, nausea, fainting, or sweating. Sit and stand up slowly after you have been sitting or lying down for a while.
- hallucinations. You may see, hear, feel, or taste something that isn’t there. You have a higher chance of having hallucinations if you are over 65 years old.
- The most common side effects in people taking Mirapex for Restless Legs Syndrome are nausea and sleepiness.
- The most common side effects in people taking Mirapex for Parkinson’s disease are nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, constipation, hallucinations, insomnia, muscle weakness, confusion, and abnormal movements.
Mirapex Interactions
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements and herbal products. Be sure to mention any of the following:
- amantadine (Symadine, Symmetrel);
- antidepressants;
- antihistamines;
- cimetidine (Tagamet);
- diltiazem (Cardiazem, Dilacor XR);
- levodopa (Larodopa, Dopar, in Sinemet);
- medications for allergies, anxiety, mental illness, nausea, and seizures;
- metoclopramide (Reglan);
- quinidine;
- quinine;
- ranitidine (Zantac, Zantac 75);
- sedatives;
- sleeping pills;
- tranquilizers;
- triamterene (Dyrenium, in Dyazide, in Maxzide);
- and verapamil (Isoptin, Calan, Verelan, and others).
Mirapex Precautions
Do not take Mirapex if you are allergic to pramipexole (the active ingredient) or any of its inactive ingredients.
Do not drive a car, operate a machine, or do anything that needs you to be alert until you know how Mirapex affects you.
Do not drink alcohol while taking Mirapex. It can increase your chances of feeling sleepy or falling asleep when you should be awake.
Mirapex may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, fainting, or sweating when you get up too quickly from a sitting or lying position. This is more common when you first start taking Mirapex, or when your dose is increased. To avoid this problem, get out of the chair or bed slowly, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up.
Studies of people with Parkinson’s disease show that they may be at an increased risk of developing melanoma, a form of skin cancer, when compared to people without Parkinson’s disease. It is not known if this problem is associated with Parkinson’s disease or the medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Mirapex is one of the medicines used to treat Parkinson’s disease, therefore, patients being treated with Mirapex should have periodic skin examinations.
There have been reports of patients taking certain medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease or Restless Leg Syndrome, including Mirapex, that have reported problems with gambling, compulsive eating, compulsive shopping, and increased sex drive. It is not possible to reliably estimate how often these behaviors occur or to determine which factors may contribute to them. If you or your family members notice that you are developing unusual behaviors, talk to your doctor.
Mirapex Food Interactions
Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Mirapex there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving Mirapex.
Inform MD
Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- are allergic to Mirapex or any other medicine.
- feel sleepy during the day from a sleep problem other than Restless Legs Syndrome.
- have low blood pressure, or if you feel dizzy or faint, especially when getting up from a lying or sitting position.
- have trouble controlling your muscles (dyskinesia).
- have kidney problems.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Mirapex will harm your unborn baby.
- are breastfeeding. It is not known if Mirapex will pass into your breast milk. You and your doctor should decide if you will take Mirapex or breastfeed. You should not do both.
- drink alcohol. Alcohol can increase the chance that Mirapex will make you feel sleepy or fall asleep when you should be awake.
Mirapex and Pregnancy
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Mirapex will harm your unborn baby.
Mirapex and Lactation
Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Mirapex is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.
Mirapex Usage
- Take Mirapex exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your doctor will tell you how many Mirapex tablets to take and when to take them.
- Your doctor may change your dose until you are taking the right amount of medicine to control your symptoms. Do not take more or less Mirapex than your doctor tells you to.
- Mirapex can be taken with or without food. Taking Mirapex with food may lower your chances of getting nausea.
- If you miss a dose, do not double your next dose. Skip the dose you missed and take your next regular dose.
- Be sure to tell your doctor right away if you stop taking Mirapex for any reason. Do not start taking Mirapex again before speaking with your doctor. If you have Parkinson’s disease and are stopping Mirapex, you should stop Mirapex slowly over 7 days.
Mirapex Dosage
Take Mirapex exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully. Mirapex comes as a tablet to take by mouth. When Mirapex is used to treat Parkinson's disease, it is usually taken three times a day. When Mirapex is used to treat restless legs syndrome, it is usually taken once a day, 2 to 3 hours before bedtime. Mirapex may be taken with or without food, but taking it with food may help to prevent nausea that may be caused by the medicine. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor will start you on a low dose of Mirapex and gradually increase your dose. Your doctor will probably not increase your dose more often than once every 4 to 7 days. It may take several weeks before you reach a dose that works for you.
Mirapex Overdose
If you take too much Mirapex, call your local Poison Control Center or seek emergency medical attention right away.
Forms of Mirapex
Mirapex tablets are available in the following strengths: 0.125 mg, 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 0.75 mg, 1 mg, and 1.5 mg.
Active Ingredient: pramipexole dihydrochloride monohydrate
Inactive Ingredients: mannitol, corn starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, povidone, and magnesium stearate
Other Requirements
- Store Mirapex tablets at room temperature [77°F (25°C)]. Short-term exposure to higher or lower temperatures [from 59°F (15°C) to 86°F (30°C)] is acceptable. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about storing your tablets.
- Keep Mirapex out of light.
- Keep Mirapex and all medicines out of the reach of children.
